Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-07-02


There were present Miss Blanche l. Wakefield, of
Annandale, Va, the young lady who made the
original charge az 1t appeared in THE STAR, Rev.
Mr.. Wakefield, father OF Miss Blanche, Rev. Mr..
Jones, OF this city, TO whom Miss Wakeneld nrst
complained OF the alleged indign1ty offered her,
the two accused guides, Mr.. John Popham, Jr., and
MI. Bcden, and the father OF young MI. Popham.
MISS wAKEFIRLD's STORY.
| Miss Wakefield reiterated her original statement
| TO the effect that she and Miss Minnie Thorne of
| P1scataway. Md, visited the Capitol, and were
being shown through the building by the two
guides, Popham and Boden; that while In one Of
the recesses OF the Senate end OF the Capitol Pop
ham suddenly threw his arms around, her and
kissed her. she and Popham meantime having be-
separatsa from MISS Ihorne ana Boden; tnat
the liberty.
A BoGUs CHECK.
In all its essential points Miss Wakefield adhered
| to her hyst statement. In the course OF the in
quiry 1t was developed that Mr.. Wakefield, father
OF the young lady, had received what purported
guide accused by his daughter. Acc ording to Mr..
Wakeiields statement, Popham offered to lend
he wanted to visit his mother In Ohio who is said
to be dying, and he had no money.
this He said that last nieSt Ve M
| called upon him Popham), spoke OF his pressing
need OF money as he was anxious to visit his dying
mother, and intimated that he would put stop to
the whole proceeding for consideration. Young
Popham says that Mr.. Wakefield estimated what
the trip would cost, and said he would
ter for an amount sufficient to pay his
expenses. P0pham alleges that he asked time to
consider and Immediately went and consulted his
father; that the latter cautioned him not to give
any money or anything OF value, but advised him
to give Wakefield a bogus cneck signed by a
fictitious name, as means of showing that 1t was
money that the accusers wanted. In the presence
What purpofted to be ss Check FOR sso at the time
ha aSnN fnrr 10 fnfn n in
Forming spn 1ae poce board on the transa
oa ey this MOI rhs Gognt
| developed, that the man whom Popham had
| as witness to the acceptance OF the bogus check
formed him OF the transaction; that about mid
night the captain visited Mr.. Wakefield and adj
monished him against receiving anything from the
other side. In Consideration OF the check it was
alleged that MI. Wakefield agreed that his daugh-
Ter should not be present to testify. This he DE-
should be indicated by an acknowledgment OF the
truth OF her statement.
MISS WAKEFIELD INDIGNANT
Miss Wakefield apparently had no knowledge of
the bogus check transaction until this morning.
She appeared indignant, and declared that she was
this matter by her father. She maintained that
she had told the truth, and would adhere to it..
MISS THoRNE's CARD.
In the course of his statement Mr.. Wakefield
said that after the publication of the card pur-
porting to have been signed by Miss Minnie Thorne
and her mother he lWakeneld) walked 80 miles to
see Mr.. Thorne, father OF Miss Minnie, about the
card; that Mr. ThOrne acknowledged the card to
be genuine. saying it corroborated what his
that she and Miss Wakefield might have been
separated during their visit at the Capitol for per-
hapS Two minutes.
In connection with the receipt Of the bogus
check, Mr.. Wakefield said he was Induced to be-
lieve that unless the matter was hushed up his
Police Gazette and that she would be given most
unenvtable nOtoriety. That he said rendered
him anxious to put stop to the proceeding.
STOUT DENIAL By THE ACCUSED GUIDES.
The two accused guides stOutly denied the
charge. They said that when they approached
the two young ladies' in the Capitol one Of them
remarked that they uhe two girls) would "draw
straws" to choose between the Two guides.
After caring all that those present had to say
the board concluded to adjourn the hearing until
next Wednesday, with the view of having Miss
Thorne present and OF taking her testimony.
The Fort Occur d'Alene Scandal.
THE RESULT OF A COURT OF INQUIRY-sEvERE REP
RIMAND BY THE PRESIDENT.
1t will be remembered that last winter serious
charges were preferred against Col frank Wheaton,
I'd infantry late commanding of1cer, and LIST Lieut.
s. E. Clark, I'd infantry, late acting assistant
quartermaster at Fort Occur dAlene, Idaho.
These charges, which reflected seriously upon
their administration OF the affairs Of the post
alleging numerous irregularities in the use OF
Government property and supplies and In
by direction OF the Secretary of War; investigated
by court of inquiry, OF which Col. II. NJ. Black,
23d infantry, was president. The result OF the
court has just been made public
The court Is OF the opinion that, while the
actions of the accused may have had their origin
In Jealous desire to create military post Tor
which no adequate appropriation had been
made, the methods and processes were de-
plOrable and were greatly to the detrtment OF the
| 0iSc1Dlfne. AT
through the disregard OF law and regulations
by the ofGers concerned lawlessness was en-
gendered which, when 1T reached the enlisted men
OF the command, greatly demOraliZed them and
scandaliZed the Army.
the court, concurs in Its opinion that the methods
and processes employed by Col Wheaton and
Lieut.. Clark were deporabe, subversive OF disci-
pline, and detrimental to the service
''rhese methods involved, in the Presidents
opinion, disregard or law and Army regulations
was afforded by any existing exigency, and be-
trayed a recklessness and degree OF evasion
which, happily. are very unusual In the conduct
demnatiOn.
THE officers whose misbehavior has been ex-
posed by this Investigation point to the military
post built under their direction as monument OF
their energy and zeal, and they appear to find
satisfaction in this result achieved with the scanty
means placed at their disposal through govern
insensible to the fact that an achievement by un-
lawful and forbidden methods such as are dis
credit either OF themselves or the Army and that
no profitable result can excuse justify VIOLA
ton OF law or Army rules and regulations or con-
done resort to methods fraudulent in themselves
and which invite POPULATION and corruption.
notwithstanding the reprehensible conduct Of
these officers, and the unlawful complexion OF the
Transactions exposed by this inquiry the that
some or the most serious charges are barred by
the statute OF limitations; the difficulty, made
apparent by an examination OF the record
OF obtaining satisfactory evidence to support the
charges upon which trial might be had; the con-
sequent uncertainty attending the result OF such
a trial; and the great expense and Inconvenience
| which would be Occasioned thereby, cOnstrain the
President TO advise that further proceedings upon
| the accusations Investigated by the court OF in
Quiry be abandoned"
IT Is UNDERSTOOD that ]. NJ. Pollard, of the ex-
aiming corps Of the Patent Office, has been ten
dered position on Gen. Ordway's staf1.
HAS Not REsIGNED-Thos. j. LASER, OF the Blu
| reau CT Provisions and Clothing, Navy Depart
ment, has not resigned yet, as stated yesterday.
| as his time has been extended until the 18th OF
July.